a3596w
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of
April 2021
PEARSON plc
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
N/A
(Translation
of registrant's name into English)
80 Strand
London, England WC2R 0RL
44-20-7010-2000
(Address
of principal executive office)
Indicate
by check mark whether the Registrant files or will file annual
reports
under
cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
Form
20-F
X
Form 40-F
Indicate
by check mark whether the Registrant by furnishing the
information
contained
in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to
the
Commission
pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
Yes
No X
Pearson Succession Planning and Board Changes
LONDON, APRIL 22, 2021: Pearson plc today announces an update on
succession planning and additional forthcoming Board
changes.
Chair Succession
Sidney Taurel has informed the Board of his intention to retire as
Chair and step down from the Board in due course, no later than the
2022 Annual General Meeting.
Pearson Chair, Sidney Taurel said: "It's long been my intention that, with a new
Chief Executive firmly in place and with strong foundations from
which Pearson can grow, I would plan to step down from the Board.
The Nomination & Governance Committee will establish a process,
led by the Senior Independent Director, to identify and appoint my
successor.
"Pearson has made good progress over the past few years in
transforming to become a more focused, digital learning company. In
Andy Bird we have a new Chief Executive with a clear and exciting
vision for the future, supported by a refreshed Board and a
strengthened senior management team. The unveiling of our new
strategy in March 2021 provides clarity regarding the future
direction of the company and a platform from which we can deliver
sustainable growth, creating value for all stakeholders. With good
initial progress being made on the execution of this strategy I
believe this year is the right time to conduct a search for a new
Chair for Pearson's next chapter."
Director Appointment
Pearson today also announces the appointment of Annette Thomas as
an independent Non-Executive Director, with effect from October 1,
2021. Annette will join the Reputation & Responsibility
Committee and the Nomination & Governance Committee of the
Pearson Board.
Annette has a 25-year track record in leading global publishing and
data analytics businesses, across academic, educational and
consumer media verticals. She is currently CEO of Guardian Media
Group, a position she has held since March 2020. Prior to this,
Annette was CEO of the Web of Science Group at Clarivate
Analytics, a data, analytics and software business focused on
research and higher education. She has also served as CEO for
various operations of Macmillan Publishers, including Nature
Publishing Group, Digital Science, Digital Education and, latterly,
Macmillan Science & Education.
Annette began her career as an editor of the scientific journal
Nature after securing a BSc in biochemistry and biophysics degree
at Harvard University and, subsequently, a PhD in neuroscience and
cell biology at Yale University.
She currently serves as a trustee of Yale University. Her previous
non-executive experience includes serving as non-executive director
at Clarivate Analytics (2017), and as a Board member for Cambridge
University Press and OCR, part of Cambridge Assessment (2019-2020).
She has also previously acted as an advisor to Creative Commons and
Bain Capital.
Pearson Chair, Sidney Taurel said: "Annette is a proven and highly impressive CEO
and Board member who has a great depth of relevant experience
operating within the learning, digital and consumer media sectors.
Her extensive data and analytics experience will be invaluable to
Pearson as we aim to broaden our digital footprint and reach more
consumers globally. Annette's expertise and perspective adds
further strength and depth to our Board as we pursue exciting
opportunities identified through our direct-to-consumer
strategy."
Annette Thomas said: "I am
relishing the opportunity to join the Board at Pearson,
particularly given my background in media, education and the
broader world of learning. I am motivated by working for
mission-driven organisations and I look forward to helping Pearson
realise its purpose of enabling people to achieve their potential
through learning."
There is no further information to be declared in accordance with
LR 9.6.13.
Changes to Key Board Roles
In addition to the Board changes noted above, following the planned
retirement of Vivienne Cox, CBE at Pearson's upcoming Annual
General Meeting ("AGM") after serving nine years on the Board, the
following changes will be made in respect of key Board
roles:
●
Tim
Score, Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee,
will additionally be appointed Senior Independent
Director
●
Sidney
Taurel, Chair of the Board, will additionally be appointed as Chair
of the Nomination & Governance Committee
●
Sherry
Coutu, CBE, Non-Executive Director, will take on the role of
Pearson's Designated Non-Executive Director responsible for
workforce engagement.
The above changes will take effect from the conclusion of Pearson's
AGM on Friday 30 April 2021. As noted above, the process to appoint
a new Chair of the Board will be led by Tim Score as the new Senior
Independent Director.
This notification is made in accordance with LR
9.6.11.
***ENDS***
Contacts
Investor Relations
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Jo Russell
Anjali Kotak
Teddy Symington
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+44 (0) 7785 451 266
+44 (0) 7802 890 724
+44 (0) 7443 354 088
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Media
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Tom Steiner
Gemma Terry
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+44 (0) 7787 415 891
+44 (0) 7841 363 216
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Teneo
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Charles Armitstead
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+44 (0) 7703 330 269
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Notes to editors
Details of the full Pearson board of directors can be found
at: https://plc.pearson.com/en-GB/company/leadership.
About Pearson
Learning is the most powerful force for change in the world. More
than 20,000 Pearson employees deliver our products and services in
nearly 200 countries, all working towards a common purpose - to
help everyone achieve their potential through learning. We do that
by providing high quality, digital content and learning
experiences, as well as assessments and qualifications that help
people build their skills and grow with the world around them. We
are the world's leading learning company. Learn more at
pearsonplc.com and @Pearsonplc.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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PEARSON
plc
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Date: 22
April 2021
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By: /s/
NATALIE WHITE
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Natalie
White
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Deputy
Company Secretary
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